Nur Ein VIII Round Four "Down to Under"

[frankie big face]

Frankie- It feels like you're making fun of the genre. Tenaciuis D bombastic choices, that checks all the boxes, but doesn't feel sincere to me.

Not really! (okay, just a little) Mostly with the lyrics. But let's be honest, everyone here knows my style so is there any way to avoid sounding like parody?

[Niveous]

So when anyone disses Beth, you're dissing my first truly romantic memory. But I don't care, because Beth was the perfect song for the perfect girl at the perfect time.

Good story. It's great when a song can bring back a memory like that. I get that same way when I hear the Mother Love Bone album. Transports me back to ninth grade and a girl named Trish.

[governingdynamics]

Quick iPhone reviews 
Gov dyn- we should talk about using a peak limiter on your quiet recordings. This did not feel like it was your comfort zone to my years. It's short in duration, but really drags the whole time. The drums need to be much louder. This needs some bonham thunder for these dinosaur feet. The chorus doesn't differentiate much musically from the verse. 

Yeah, not really in my comfort zone. I was attempting to channel what I'll call "garage metal". Ie. the tentative sounding bits at the beginning and when the drums drop out are intentional (although I'll admit, they might not sound much better if they weren't intentional).

I had a number of problems recording, not the least of which was that I didn't write anything I liked until Saturday evening and worked Sunday during the day. I can play (some) metal riffs, but I don't have much experience (or aptitude) writing them.

I am a little miffed at all the comments about the quietness... it's not that I doubt it, but it sounds really "loud" to my ears. That may not be dependent on that actual volume of the song, though, if you know what I mean by that. In any event I guess I need some sort of tutorial on peak limiters. Any time I've ever used one it made everything sound squashed and ugly and no amount of mixing seemed to fix it (at least not without resulting in a recording that didn't sound anything like I intended). Heavily distorted rhythm parts are a often big problem for me, they never sound quite right in the mix.

Drums are a problem and I imagine will be for the forseeable future. I don't write much music that I feel can go without drums, but all I've got is ezdrummer and a kind of "eh" library of loops. They are also another aspect that never seems to sit in the write place when I'm working with a lot of distortion on the guitars.

So anyway. Blah, blah, blah, see you all in the Neins. :p

By the way, I haven't got around to responding on the other threads yet but I do remember you from Spintunes 2. And I have used that EQ tutorial ever since, so thanks for that. I think your intent was largely misunderstood by most of the contestants there, but that's a whole other discussion.

[furrypedro]

You may be lost in the metal genre, but you can rock better than anyone in the competition. When this song rocks it really rocks. The last minute is my favorite, but it's more ghosts and vodka than metal. 

Totally lost. I have (as I'm sure most SFers do) a pretty big cd/record collection and I think the closest thing to metal in the whole bunch is the 1st SOAD album. Most metal has guitars, drums and bass in it so despite the help of the encyclopaedia metallum I'm still not sure what makes one song metal and another one grindcore, or whatever.
If the challenge had been "kick out the fucking jams" I'm sure I'd be safer but hey.
I'm glad you like the last bit. It was added in the knowledge that this would be my last Nur Ein song this year and wanted to end on high, possibly flying in the face of the challenge (it does have guitar harmonies though, how often do I do that?!) and I'm sure it'll shove the stick right up Eric Y's ass but fuck it.

Carlo jr- This feels very Strong Bad.

Haha, I wish you hadn't said that.

my first truly romantic memory.

Makes me want to go and listen to Beth for the first time ever and pretend I'm in Say Anything or some shit.

[Manhattan Glutton]

Yeah, not really in my comfort zone. I was attempting to channel what I'll call "garage metal".

You could have fooled me. This is one of my favorite if not my favorite this week. The music is perfect - even the little sloppy parts that aren't timed well sound as though they were done intentionally. It sounds very Tool-ish. The only thing I'm not thrilled about are the high pitched vocals - a lower register or an attempt at a deeper voice would have gone well here. I like this a lot more than the previous songs you did (which were Counting Crows-y, if I recall).

[carlo bruno jr]

Carlo jr- This feels very Strong Bad.

Haha, I wish you hadn't said that.

Is this Strong Bad?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQfy-u7405w

[furrypedro]

Carlo jr- This feels very Strong Bad.

Haha, I wish you hadn't said that.

Is this Strong Bad?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQfy-u7405w

There he is! However I think this is more what glennny was talking about

[Caravan Ray]

Tyson docks- sound like you're ...just too cool for metal. 

Yes. Most people over the age of 12 are.

[iVeg]

While you're eagerly awaiting the judges' ratings, can you head to the Nein VIII thread and give Skypup and I any constructive criticism/ pointers/ whatever on our versions of "Down to Under" ? Thanks!

[Caravan Ray]

While you're eagerly awaiting the judges' ratings, can you head to the Nein VIII thread and give Skypup and I any constructive criticism/ pointers/ whatever on our versions of "Down to Under" ? Thanks!

On quick listen yesterday - I think both of those songs would have been more deserving of moving on than most of the remaining competitors.

Merisan was pretty much the only song worth listening to this round. The rest of it was pretty forgettable.

[Ross]

To whom it concerns... Here is an improved master of my submission

http://www.rossdurand.com/nurein/rossdu ... _remix.mp3

[Eric Y.]

It was added in the knowledge that this would be my last Nur Ein song this year and wanted to end on high, possibly flying in the face of the challenge (it does have guitar harmonies though, how often do I do that?!) and I'm sure it'll shove the stick right up Eric Y's ass but fuck it.

Personally, I enjoyed the first two minutes of your song rather much. Beyond that, no comment. Until after the results have been tabulated and announced, whereupon my reviews shall be published. But I just wanted to share that little tidbit with you early.

[Billy's Little Trip]

To whom it concerns... Here is an improved master of my submission

http://www.rossdurand.com/nurein/rossdu ... _remix.mp3

Much better. You got that guitar tone in control and your mid range over all.

[Geoff WreckdoM]

I can't believe we flubbed the metal challenge, Dang. WreckdoM and Nur Ein, it just ain't meant to be. Oh well, good luck everybody.

[Niveous]

I can't believe we flubbed the metal challenge, Dang. WreckdoM and Nur Ein, it just ain't meant to be.

I don't think either of these statements are true but I guess I was in the minority. I think WreckdoM did some great things in this year's Nur Ein and you'll continue to have a big fan in me.

[Geoff WreckdoM]

Thanks Niv! You know we'll probably be back next year, I'm a glutton for punishment

[j$]

WAIL. IAAC. At this point in, All Songs Are Good. So I’m being tough in the most arbitrary ways. Them’s the breaks.

I am not a metal head. As my reviews will reveal. So if I reference some metal band in the reviews that is blatantly inaccurate, just be glad I know a metal artist that isn’t “Europe” or Gary Moore.

Balance Lost – Great opening. Super-ropey singing isn’t helping this. I like how you give up around 2 mins and move back into comfort territory. Which sounds better but isn’t as interesting. Should have stopped at 2 and tightened, tightened, tightened.
Camp Rating: Camper than Rylan from UK X-Factor late one night riding a clown’s tricycle, slowly and laboriously, round and round the street lamp at the end of your road. EDIT: (Actually, that’s not camp, just fucking scary).

Carlo Bruni Jr – Killer music as always – I am not sure if my “his voice sounds good on some styles and not others” is just some inherent prejudice in me, but whatever, here it feels a bit lost in the franticness of the tune. But that tune is pretty hot. So. Actually I figured it – it’s the rough backing vocals under “down to under” – if you want to make a shouty chorus, mix the shouting louder and the melody quieter. In fact I’d probably take the vocal down slightly overall. Metal David Bowie countdown is a bit odd. I held out hope for a bit that this song was about how you feel betrayed by Bowie’s later output, but that analysis doesn’t really hold
Camp Rating: Camper than Fangoria (the band).

Cavedwellers - Song about Star Wars? Is it still 2003? Hmmm, yeah, this is super-indulgent. Still there is a lot of energy in this, which I love, and I think that’s your enjoyment seeping through the rather showy playing (rather than studded wristband plague). Were you wearing face paint when you recorded this? I like to think you were. Not being a metalhead, the closest comparision I can think of is a prog/metal addendum to the “War of the Worlds” soundtrack. Is that a good thing? Is it? Is it? F**ked if I know. Also you wrote about STAR WARS. And obscure reference in star wars at that. Minus “nerds are evil” points.
Camp Rating: Camper than C3P0 on Christmas Day.

Chokehold Princess – What a pretty melody. Minus points for not really using the title, and trying to wriggle round it by generally vague and “mysterious” to your (less than average) listener - ( me, in this instance). I guess this is 80s poodle metal. It makes me think of John Parr. Bad Ben Kreiger. Still a good song from a terrible genre. But it’s “underdog” not “under down”. Just sayin’.
Camp Rating: Good to see that camp isn’t only restricted to loud, fast played geetars. Camper than ghostly jazz hands placed louchely at the crescendo of a showtune around a moist frying pan handle of your choice.

FBF – Errrr …. This is so silly. That you do it with a straight face is impressive and makes it enjoyable. Shitloads going on of interest but doesn’t outstay its welcome. Absolutely no f**king idea what you’re going on about. Love those bvs. Great singing all round. Another of those “forced to do something different, you do something rather wonderful” moments.
Camp Rating: Camper than a row of tents. At a drag queen jamboree. The night before the grand final of “Who’s the campest drag queen outdoorperson” competition.

GD – now that’s metal, with a 90s indie rock sheen, right? Helmet kind of thing? The vocal stylings kind of spoil it for me, it’s slows it all down for the sake of sounded anguished / constipated (delete where applicable). I find the words hard to follow, so it’s only on the third or fourth listen this starts to win me over. Lower-mid-table for me.
Camp Rating: Almost as butch as Butch Vig.

MG – shame you follow GD this round because the same issues for me apply here and there. Only more so, for better and for worse. The music is great, possibly my favourite in the round. The 90s grungey stylings on the very well done vocal drive me nuts. Why does dragging out syllables unnecessarily and singing like you’re chewing your knuckles equate with passion? Let it out, man. Schizophrenic for me – this big open bold and pretty fucking great music weighed down and slowed down by (at its worst) imagery made almost laughable by the phrasing choices. Also minus points for kinda cheating the title. I’d let that go if it was in any way other than phoned in subject matter. But I don’t want to go on about my take on that as it’s big ol’ plus points for the music. Hmmmm. Must be said every time I listen to this (5th? 6th?) this grows more and more on me. Unfortunately that drawn out, wasp-chewing chorus stylings drag me out of my enjoyment every time. Still those extra listens have moved you up my chart.
Camp Rating: Camper than an album of Eddie Van Halen solos. Played on kazoo.

Merisan – Your idea of speed metal and mine are clearly very different. And also your idea of Motorhead. Who knew Merisan doing metal sounds almost exactly like the Hell Yeahs? Still, I love the Hell Yeahs, so, you know … also the lyric sounds great, and I am sure means something really moving and emotional, but it speaks nothing to me, either in the listen or on the “page”. That said this one of three I would jump to if I ever listen to this round again. Which at this point of the evening, it must be admitted, is unlikely
Camp Rating: Remarkably un-camp. Which I am slightly disappointed by. But not that much.

Paco Del Stinko – the line between inspiration and copyright violation pastiche is a fine one, eh? I like Black Sabbath as much as the next man. If the next man is the President of the “I Hate Black Sabbath” club. Your Satan laughter is so camp it could turn a phalanx of gay people straight in the blink of an eye. Slow and murky is good, but not grindy and choppy enough to hide its length (matron). I wish you were singing “eternal coal”. IT’S ALL TOO MUCH, MAN. In every way. One positive – you have made me need the toilet. And by the time I come back, it’s still going on :p
Camp Rating: Camper than the Devil’s back tits. (that’s buttocks, in case you didn’t figure it out) You undoubtedly win as the campest Nur Ein-er ever. Your cape and strap on front-buttocks wait just at the bottom of this bottomless pit, if you’d just take a step forward ...

Ross – those horns – and the shock of hearing Ross rock, sorry metal, out – are big bonus points for me. A slightly worthy lyric (unless I’m missing something) is a downside. I do like “Just another part of the machine we’re building’ if it’s some weird cyberpunk Tetsuo Body Hammer thing. Which I rather suspect it isn’t. It goes along very nicely and isn’t a winner for me, despite the genius and invigorating brass balls of the brass every time they (sensibly) sparingly surface.
Camp Rating: Camper than Willie Nelson doing a disco spoken word version of “Me and Paul”. (Which now I think of it would be friggin’ AMAZING. Especially if the city of the nation in which they were receiving their education in the video was San Fran). Is it time for a coverfight soon?

Tydon Docks – the bits that almost become Motorhead are my favourite parts. Also love the opening assaults. The lyric bothers me, because it’s empty. And also because I’ve heard most of those metal “neighbour of the beast” jokes a hundred places elsewhere. I DESPISE the Guns’n’Roses slow bits. Intentional or not, you lose me there. The sound effects make me think of Meatloaf, and not in a sexy “dance for me naked, Meatloaf, or I won’t tell you the disarm codes” way. It’s the G’n’R bits though that really ruin the mood for me, every time. Should have done Motorhead all the way through, IMO. And wrote some less angry, or at least more intruiging words.
Camp Rating: Camper than Cezar, the Romanian Eurovision entry. Singing Vibrators covers. While doing a sexy naked dance for the disarm codes.

Wreckdom – weirdly, the band I thought would run away with it this week bring pretty standard metaldoml. The lyric feels a bit old hat in subject matter (though points for the way you say “Dungeons & Dragons”) – maybe it’s just I don’t believe the character as voiced. You don’t have to make it clear whether he’s to be admired or detested, of course, but the standard approach to the music suggests the former, indirectly. I would probably have passed this song for the challenge if you’d done it as twee hipster-hop with the same lyric and vocal performance. Kind of wished you had.
Camp Rating: Less camp than .. Wreckdom! Boo!

[WreckdoMelle]

Aw bummers! The false metal gods were clearly at work against us... Ah well, there is no stopping WreckdoM. Good luck dudes, tschuss!

[BenKrieger]

Bah. I'll be curious to hear the reasoning for the elimination. Considering that the challenge was clarified as WWIMD 12 hours after I'd written my song on the one morning I had to record, it will seem lame if I got penalized so severely for thinking that "metal" was clear and inspiring enough, without needing to read the boards for any further details. I fully acknowledge that I went back after mixing and realize that I'd substituted "to" with "the" in the lyrics, and can't argue if that was the reason. I'd rather follow through with a good idea than go back and edit an error for the sake of the challenge, and am willing to take a cut for that.

But if it's because the tune wasn't metal enough, I swear to god I'm going to pummel you bastards with a corpse submission for Round 5.

[Eric Y.]

Standard disclaimer: The following words are merely the thoughts and opinions of a single person, and as such, don't really hold much merit in regards to whether or not a particular song is GOOD -- but rather, whether or not I personally enjoyed certain elements of each song. So take all of this with a grain of salt.

Non-standard disclaimer: The following words are provided here for the potential benefit of those people who may be interested in reading one of the judges' opinions, or more specifically, why one judge happened to like or dislike each of the songs. These opinions and comments may differ significantly from your own beliefs. By continuing to read this post, you acknowledge that you have read and understand and agree to abide by the contents of this disclaimer.

Extra Special Bonus Disclaimer: For anyone who is especially bothered by any of my opinions, rest assured with the knowledge that it really doesn't make a difference how I feel about anything. My #1 song (which was #1 by far) still managed to get eliminated. Damn.

**************************

• Governing Dynamics - I do love me some grunge-metal.
  I'll be seeing these folks next Monday night!
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BafSlqFVuGM
  
• Manhattan Glutton - The harmonies are nice, they kind of remind me of the vocals on the chorus here:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2KCnA37H-s
  But mostly I'm catching this sort of a vibe:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ayuL3j1TNM
  
• Carlo Bruno Jr. - Good energy, fun crazy guitars. Vocals sort of fall into a sort of middle ground -- would have liked to see you take it further in either direction.
  Either way more gruff and heavy:
  http://culturatres.bandcamp.com/track/the-grace
  Or just full-on belting it out, operatic-style:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3l513_js5Ks
  
• Frankie Big Face - The drums are too prominent in the intro but this is improved once the main riffs come in. Rhythmically a tad awkward at times -- in particular, the lyrics seem to cram too many syllables in most lines, forcing you to sing faster than perhaps you ought to try doing.
  Taking it a little slower (vocally) might allow you to get more feeling to shine through:
  http://ionvein.bandcamp.com/track/anger-inside
  
• Merisan - Personally, I'm not real into the whole punk-metal thing, but it's nicely done here.
  The vocals sound good in this context; kind of reminding me of these folks:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTbu-yP7J8c
  
• WreckdoM - The guitar riff is pretty cool.
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI4e4RDhUwo
  And I love the backing vocals. Overall a funny concept, but novelty/comedy metal songs aren't really my thing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chiVMrWMHko
  
• Ross Durand - There really ought to be more brass-based metal songs.
  Your song sort of brings to mind these guys:
  http://fallstaf.bandcamp.com/track/eulogy
  Although this is definitely one of my all-time favorites:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p20PijYVgG4
  
• The Tydon Docks - From this, I'm gathering that your interpretation of "metal" is "just take a traditional hard-rock song, then add some extra instrumental tracks into the mix so that the whole thing sounds like a mess." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWUBHA2DBDA
  
• Balance Lost - Was going pretty well for the first two minutes until it turned all pop-punk.. Vocals could use a bit more power behind them, for the most part, but a valient effort in a style that seems pretty much outside your comfort zone.
  I'd rather hear more of this:
  http://relapsealumni.bandcamp.com/track/black-bubblegum
  And less of this:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DudgmaXQRQc
  
• Cavedwellers - Not totally sure what to make of this.
  It's like these vocals (which are good, but decidedly not "metal")
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Wlw8pz49-g
  ...combined with this band (which is admittedly "metal" but rather not-good)
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LZ00CL8pdI
  
• Chokehold Princess - I have trouble understanding what possible interpretation of the challenge has resulted in this song, aside from the noisy guitar solo right at the end.
  For the most part, this song is about as metal as this:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4BV935lT-8
  Even that band managed to pull off a pseudo-metal sound when they tried to:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_VYHsWzqZI
  

**************************

• Paco del Stinko - The singing here is about 100x better than anything Ozzy's ever done (which, admittedly, isn't really saying a lot). But musically, I feel like you've simply thieved (note for note) various bits and pieces from the first two Sabbath albums.
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpAi0Srfqtk
  If this hadn't been immune, it probably would have been ranked #3.

[j$]

I can't believe we flubbed the metal challenge, Dang. WreckdoM and Nur Ein, it just ain't meant to be.

I think WreckdoM did some great things in this year's Nur Ein and you'll continue to have a big fan in me.

FTR, I concur. It's almost pointless for me reviewing La'Dom as 90%^ of the time they are 90% genius and 10% terrible. And I wouldn't want it any other way. Honestly sorry to see you go.

[j$]

Bah. I'll be curious to hear the reasoning for the elimination. Considering that the challenge was clarified as WWIMD 12 hours after I'd written my song on the one morning I had to record, it will seem lame if I got penalized so severely for thinking that "metal" was clear and inspiring enough, without needing to read the boards for any further details. I fully acknowledge that I went back after mixing and realize that I'd substituted "to" with "the" in the lyrics, and can't argue if that was the reason. I'd rather follow through with a good idea than go back and edit an error for the sake of the challenge, and am willing to take a cut for that.

But if it's because the tune wasn't metal enough, I swear to god I'm going to pummel you bastards with a corpse submission for Round 5.

See my above review. In which I would like to apologise for misspelling your last name. Sloppy spelling but not judging. Without giving away my precious judge anonymity, *I* didn't have you in the relegation places. Them's the breaks, right?